Everyone Is Holidaying During The Shoulder Season – But What On Earth Does That Mean?
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5 hours ago
Introducing the coolest way to travel – literally
We may be packing up our swimsuits and saying a fond farewell to the beloved open-toe sandals that saw us through the summer months, but there’s still a world of wanderlust left in the year, and we don’t mean chasing the sun to the southern hemisphere. Introducing shoulder season, the travel trend that, with changing temperatures across the globe due to the climate crisis, is going nowhere fast.
Better to ride the wave: here Ina Yulo Stuve taps a group of travel experts to find out where they’re cosying up once the leaves turn amber and the pools close for the season.
An Expert’s Guide To Shoulder Season Travel
Shoulder season refers to the liminal point in between a destination’s high season (aka the peak) and its low (or ‘off’) season. In Europe, most travellers head to the Mediterranean for some summer sun before bunkering down in preparation for time on the slopes in the winter. But it’s the quieter months of September to November that those in the know eagerly await.
Luxury holiday and villa specialist Red Savannah shares that, for holiday hotspots Greece and Italy, around one third of all their bookings are now made during the shoulder season, with guests opting to visit when ‘temperatures are milder and prices are more competitive,’ they tell me.
You’ll also find cities have a quieter, more local atmosphere while resorts take on an aura of tranquility. OutThere magazine’s Steffen Michels calls the remaining visitors ‘deseasonalists’ who ‘don’t travel to tick off points on a bucket list’ and are generally more considered in their movements across the globe. ‘Shoulder season travellers are in search of a feeling, not a tourist attraction,’ he tells me. ‘It’s great to be visiting alongside people who appreciate this nuance.’
Travelling during shoulder season is also kinder on the planet: ‘It is when destinations breathe with a quieter rhythm, when the energy softens into stillness, and when the sense of place reveals itself with greater clarity,’ says Yuki Kiyono, global head of health and wellness development for uber-luxe hotel brand AMAN.
But not every destination is suited to shoulder season travel. ‘This is where expert knowledge becomes crucial,’ says Debra Kent, managing director of luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent. ‘Shoulder season travel works brilliantly for many destinations, but it requires expert curation to match the right traveller with the right place at the right time.’
For Emma Hartland-Mahon – UK founder of luxury travel PR specialists J/PR – hotels that are open year-round, like AREV St. Tropez, make the decision easy: ‘Savvy travellers know that St. Tropez’s real charm emerges when the summer circus leaves town. AREV’s genius lies in creating experiences that thrive in shoulder season rather than just surviving it.’ For one, this November AREV is working with Wim Hof Method expert Emma Estrella on a 10 day residency to help guests recharge and breathe easily into the winter months.
Where Do The Experts Go?
Pip Durell: Puglia, Italy
Pip Durrell (@pipdurell) is the Founder and CEO of fashion brand With Nothing Underneath.
Puglia has everything: beautiful water, great food, and the countryside is so peaceful. I love that the temperature drops and Southern Europe is at its best in 30 degrees in September. A trip to the pottery town of Grottaglie is a must – just keep space in your suitcase for what will inevitably be a big shop! We also spend a lot of time eating and the food is incredible over there. Il Principe del Mare is a favourite.
As for hotels, Masseria Moroseta is hard to beat. Architecturally, its simplicity ties into the surrounding landscape and somehow enhances the feeling of tranquillity – I promise it’s true!
Emma Hartland-Mahon: Greece
Emma Hartland-Mahon (@emmahartlandmahon) is the Managing Director and UK Founder of luxury travel and lifestyle agency J/PR.
Greece in early autumn is perfection – you still get that guaranteed Mediterranean sunshine, but slightly cooler evenings, quieter beaches and warmer seas. With fewer crowds, locals tend to be more relaxed and I find you have authentic interactions that give you real insight into local culture and life. It’s also the best way to visit the packed-out hotspots that are normally booked solid, often with much better service since staff aren’t stretched thin managing peak season rushes.
I am just back from Cali Mykonos, which has perfectly timed its new spa and wellness launch for shoulder season. It’s an ideal spot for those who want a mix of peaceful relaxation – think outdoor gym and reformer pilates classes with Aegean Sea views – while also wanting to dip their toes into the famous Mykonos party scene.
Steffen Michels: Canada
Steffen Michels (@steffenmichels) is the Digital Editor of OutThere magazine, a luxury and experiential travel publication rooted in diversity, discovery, and discernment.
I’m currently in Canada travelling around Alberta and British Columbia. Both are extraordinarily beautiful throughout the year, but in September through to October, the salmon spawning peaks which also draws hungry bears to the shore. We booked a private fat truck tour up the Athabasca Glacier for our first-ever ‘glacial facial’ and went rafting on the Bow River in Canmore. When the larches turn yellow in the autumn and golden light falls through the canopy, it’s easy to feel connected to the spiritual world of Canada’s indigenous communities, whose land this is.
Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge in Vancouver Island is spectacular. They organised a Champagne-laced helicopter trip to a private mountaintop lake for our group, and sent us horseback-riding, whale-watching, and so much more. The lodge also catered to my vegan diet in style, something many mainstream brands are frustratingly behind on.
Kate Hutchins: St Moritz, Switzerland
Kate Hutchins (@kateehutchins) is a London-based content creator sharing fashion, travel, and lifestyle with a timeless yet approachable style.
The shoulder season scenery in Switzerland is just breath-taking. There’s a perfect mix of nature and city life. I love the balance St. Moritz offers with hiking, luxury shopping in town, and evenings over unforgettable dining. And when the weather plays along, you sometimes even get the joy of skiing before winter officially arrives.
Suvretta House is an all-time favourite. It’s the epitome of understated luxury, with a calming atmosphere that makes you switch off the moment you arrive. The interiors are timeless and elegant, and the views across the gardens to the mountains and lakes are just breath-taking. It’s the kind of place that feels instantly like home – so comfortable and welcoming that you never want to leave.
Yuki Kiyono: Japan
Yuki Kiyono is Global Head of Health & Wellness Development for AMAN, the ultra-luxury hospitality brand of resorts, hotels, and private residences across 20 countries.
It has to be Japan. During shoulder season, the tranquility of Ago Bay in the Ise-Shima peninsula invites reflection, while moments of forest bathing among the surrounding woodlands create a deep sense of harmony with the elements. Here, silence itself becomes therapeutic, an immersion in nature’s embrace that brings genuine healing.
I’ll be checking into Amanemu, where the body and mind are gently restored through the healing power of nature. The natural hot spring onsen, embraced by forests and accompanied by birdsong, offers true rejuvenation. Amanemu is also home to one of the world’s most beautiful Watsu treatment pools. Floating weightlessly in warm water as your therapist moves with you in silence becomes almost a spiritual experience.
